National Library in the realm of Kolkata can surpass any other building in terms of both magnificence and elegance. This is not the statement of any single individual but also of hordes of intellectuals and personalities who have either made use of the library for academic pursuits or have visited the campus even for once. Now the same grand old edifice is on the verge of getting a facelift.
It has been learnt that the National Library building will soon appear in a new avatar. Given that the library has been shifted out to a new building within the 72-bigha Belvedere Estate complex, the Union ministry of culture has established a committee in order to decide how and for what the stately mansion can be used. If ever it gets completed, the government will surely do a justice to this bravura 18th century Belvedere House, witness to lots of pages of history.
The earliest name associated with the building was Mir Jaffar Ali Khan, the nawab of Murshidabad. It was also the favorite residence of Warren Hastings, British Governor-General of India.
In this regard a great part of the credit goes to the Union culture secretary Jawhar Sircar (a Bengal-cadre IAS officer) and owing to his insistence the building along with sprawling campus has already received Rs 19.5 crore from the Union ministry of culture as a revival package.
What’s more, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has plans to restore the building. Once that is done, the Centre will come up with the best usage of this huge space inside the fabulous work of architecture.
“Now that the library has shifted to the multi-storey Bhasha Bhavan, a lot of debate has been on for the most suitable transformation for this grand old building. The decision couldn’t have been taken unanimously. So, we decided to form a committee,” said Sircar. Himself a member of the newly-formed committee, Sircar added: “The committee members will deliberate on the different opinions available and consult different groups for recommending the most appropriate utilization.”
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